Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Recovery Image from Near Space

Whoa! Near Spacecraft on its way down!

Jim Emmert of the Pella in Near Space (PENS) just sent me this image taken by his camera during the ascent of NearSys-17G. This is an image taken at an altitude of 95,000 feet. Within seconds of balloon burst, the parachute is open. APRS Data indicates the near spacecraft is descending at a speed greater than 6,000 feet per minute or around 70 mph. Above the black and yellow parachutes can be seen the scrap of balloon that survived the burst. The payloads at the end of the balloon line are swinging wildly during the early descent when chaos reigns supreme. Jim's camera just happen to take a picture as its module whipped around